The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records⁴. They are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the University receives a request for access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other appropriate official, written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The University official will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.  If the records are not maintained by the University official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
   
   
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes is inaccurate or misleading or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. Students may ask the University to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the University official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the University decides not to amend the record as requested by the student, the University will notify the student in writing of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the student when notified of the right to a hearing.
   
   
3. The right to provide written consent before the University disclosures of personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. The University discloses education records without a student’s prior written consent under the FERPA exception for disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the University in  an  administrative,  supervisory,  academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the University has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using University employees or officials (such as an attorney, auditor, collection agent, contract employee, or a clinical/internship facility); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the University discloses education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
   
   
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Ferris State University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:

   Family Policy Compliance Office
   U.S. Department of Education
   400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
   Washington, DC  20202-4605

   As outlined by the Act, at the discretion of the University, “directory information,” as defined as academic college or program/major, addresses, admission status, athletic participation, class level, dates of attendance, degrees/honors/awards received, enrollment status, name, previous schools attended and telephone, may be released without your consent. However, you may request that all of the items identified as directory or public information be withheld and considered restricted information. To exercise this option you must file a written request at the Timme Center for Student Services. The request for non-disclosure must be filed by the end of the first week of fall term to assure information will not be published in the student directory. A request for non-disclosure will be honored by the institution and remain active until you notify the Record’s Office in writing to remove the restriction.

   Ferris State University regards all student records as protected by FERPA. Parents requesting access to their child’s records (grades, billing, etc.), including minors (children under the age of 18), are encouraged to ask their son(s) and/or daughter(s) to fill out an Authorization to Disclose Information form at the first floor service counter in the Timme Center for Student Services.